Predators take second place in 11-under World SeriesSpecial to The Courier The River Valley Predators recently ended their baseball season on a high note. After winning nine games in the 11-under Class AA USSSA World Series held in Tulsa, Okla., the Predators captured second place in the tournament to cap their season. Derek Birginske was selected to the All-Tournament team and received the Outstanding Defense Award for his play in the World Series. Cody Jones received the Outstanding Offensive...

Fastpitch softball tourney cancelledThe American Softball Association 8-under national fastpitch softball tournament scheduled for today, Saturday and Sunday at Pleasant View Park has been cancelled, according to Mack Hollis, director of the Russellville Recreation and Parks Department. Hollis said Craig Johnson, ASA district commissioner, called the department's athletic director, Terry Thomas, Wednesday afternoon to inform him of the decision. Only seven teams met the entry de...

Pine Bluff routs Russellville, 11-1By Mark Burke sports@couriernews.com Russellville Cogswell Motors' home finale Thursday night at Hickey Park for the 2005 American Legion baseball season was sort of a tale of two halves. Russellville would just assume forget the second half. After leading 1-0 for four full innings, Russellville began seeing its lead quickly fade as Pine Bluff Simmons First Bank got its bats going in the fifth en route to an 11-1 win. With two outs in the top ...

Heading to nationalsTHE COURIER / Fred Gladdis Little Cyclones' second baseman Lindsey Kirby, 9, daughter of Danny and Elaine Kirby, throws home during last weekend's Amateur Softball Association 8-9-year old fastpitch softball state tournament at Pleasant View Park. The Little Cyclones finished second in the tournament and qualified for the national tournament later this month at Pleasant View Park.

Russellville rallies past GreenbrierCourier sports staff GREENBRIER - After surviving an early deficit and getting the bats going, Russellville Cogswell Motors came back to defeat Greenbrier 7-5 Monday in American-Legion action. Greenbrier held a 5-1 lead after two innings of play and maintained the lead until Russellville's three-run inning in the fifth. After Matt Bubbus walked and scored on a double by Brandon Brown, Lawson Hipps gave Russellville the lead for good with a two...

Lack of hits hurt Russellville in lossBy Mark Burke sports@couriernews.com Ask Russellville Cogswell Motors coach Chris Bubbus what he thinks Russellville's trouble was in Saturday's 8-1 loss to the Sylvan Hills Bruins, and he can easily sum it up. "We just didn't bring our sticks tonight (Saturday)," Bubbus said after the American Legion loss at Hickey Park. "We couldn't really hit. We had a few baserunners, but we couldn't get anything going." Giving up four unearned runs in the...

Russellville falls late to Van BurenBy Mark Burke sports@couriernews.com Russellville Cogswell Motors coach Chris Bubbus saw firsthand what can happen to a team that doesn't play a complete game. After leading for three innings, Russellville saw its lead gradually slip away Wednesday night, resulting in a 9-6 win for Van Buren Beau's Tuxedos in American-Legion action at Tech Field. "This was just a classic example of not taking a team seriously," Bubbus said. "We just let up aft...

Russellville gets past FayettevilleCourier sports staff Russellville Cogswell Motors will take runs any way it can. After drawing nine walks in the game and having two instances of a hit batsman, Russellville was able to go on for a 16-13 victory over Fayetteville in American-Legion baseball action Saturday at Tech Field. A seven-run fourth inning helped pace Russellville in the win. Kyle McCabe and Josh Williams drew back-to-back walks to start the frame. Matt Bubbus then foll...

Predators capture state championshipFor The Courier ALMA - The River Valley Predators claimed the state title in the 11-under AA United States Speciality Sports Association state tournament last weekend in Alma. The Predators won seven straight games to capture the championship. With the championship, the Predators will take part in the July 17-24 national tournament in Tulsa. A 12-5 win against A-1 Buzz gave the Predators their seventh win and the state championship. Lane Reves...

Russllville takes hard fall in Legion openerBy Mark Burke sports@couriernews.com Although the rain stopped Wednesday evening before Russellville Superior Foods' game with Maumelle in American-Legion action at Tech Field, runs poured in late for Maumelle as it routed Russellville 12-2 in the season opener. Trailing 2-0 after three innings, Russellville got on the board in the bottom of the fourth when Lawson Hipps scored on a sacrifice fly by Mark Kohler to cut the lead to one. That, how...

RHJS West girls victorious at Greenbrier RelaysCourier sports staff GREENBRIER - Russellville Junior High School's West girls track team came away with a narrow victory Tuesday in the Greenbrier Relays. The Lady Whirlwinds finished the meet with 114.5 points, narrowly edging the 108 scored by Conway White. Russellville East was the only other serious contender in the meet, scoring 85 points, while Searcy and Vilonia rounded out the top five with 59 and 53 points, respectively. Russellville...

West boys stay in tourney with rallyCourier sports staff SEARCY - Russellville's West boys overcame a seven-point halftime deficit to take a 32-28 victory over Benton in Central Arkansas Junior High Conference tournament action Monday night. The win moves the Whirlwinds, the North Division champions, into a 7:45 p.m. game Thursday against either Bryant or Vilonia. Brandon Woestman led Russellville West with 10 points, while Terrell Carter and A.J. Broadnax each added eight for t...

West squads finish on strong note; East teams suffer sweepCourier sports staff Russellville Junior High School's West basketball squads closed out their regular season by taking three of four games in Thursday's action against Morrilton. The West ninth-grade boys, who had already clinched the North Division championship title with a win Monday night, finished on a strong note as the Whirlwinds took a 47-31 victory over the Devil Pups. Russellville West held on to the slimmest of margins early, leadin...

'Winds defeat SearcyCourier sports staff Russellville Junior High School's West ninth-grade boys didn't allow Searcy to complete a four-game sweep Thursday night as the Whirlwinds rolled to a 43-31 victory at the RJHS gym. Russellville West led 10-7 after one period and slowly built its cushion to an 18-9 margin at halftime. The Whirlwinds owned a comfortable 30-17 cushion at the end of the third quarter and went on to secure the victory. Terrel Carter scored 10 ...

East boys prevail in final home gameCourier sports staff The Russellville East Whirlwinds held down their home floor nicely in their final home game of the season Thursday night. The 'Winds captured a 37-31 victory over Vilonia after ending the game on a 13-7 run in ninth-grade action at Whirlwind Gymnasium. Russellville East rallied back from a 16-12 halftime defecit to tie the game at 24 heading into the final period. The Whirlwinds mounted their run in the fourth quarter to p...

RJHS East Whirlwinds defeat SheridanCourier sports staff Russellville Junior High's East ninth-grade boys pulled away from Sheridan in the fourth quarter and claimed a 47-36 victory Thursday night at the RJHS gym. The East Whirlwinds trailed 11-10 after one period but came back in the second quarter to take a 24-19 halftime lead. Russellville East took a 34-29 lead into the final six minutes before putting the game away. Derek Owens led the Whirlwinds with 17 p-oints, followed b...

West boys pound Conway BlueCourier sports staff The Russellville Junior High West Whirlwinds combined a good scoring attack with good defense to defeat Conway White 42-23 Thursday night in ninth-grade action at the RJHS gymnasium. The Whirlwinds scored 14 points in the third quarter to increase their halftime lead (19-12) to 33-18 before going on for the win. Russellville West also led 8-2 after the first quarter. Eric Allen led the 'Winds with 12 points on 4-of-5 shoot...

RJHS West basketball teams win two gamesCourier sports staff Russellville West picked up a pair of conference wins over Benton Thursday night at Whirlwind gymnasium. In the boys' game, A.J. Broadnax sank two free throws with five seconds remaining to help give the Whirlwinds a 41-37 victory. Russellville West led most of the way, including 12-8 after the first quarter and 17-11 at halftime. The Whirlwinds held a 26-20 leading going into the final quarter where most of the damage was...

Ola junior boys, Lamar Lady Warriors triumphCourier sports staff The Ola junior boys errupted for 17 second-quarter points Monday night and turned its game into a rout as the Mustangs rolled to a 43-19 victory. The Mustangs trailed 7-6 after the first quarter but picked up the offense in the second period for a 23-11 lead at halftime. Ola kept the scoring attack going in the third quarter and held a 43-13 lead heading into the final quarter. Shelby Carter paced the Mustangs with 11 poin...

RJHS East boys dominate in conference actionCourier sports staff The Russellville East Whirlwinds blew past Greenbrier on Monday night and captured a 49-15 victory. Russellville East dominated throughout the game and led 22-8 at halftime. The Whirlwinds continued the strong play in the third quarter and held a 32-12 lead heading into the fourth quarter. The East also led 13-4 after the first quarter. Derek Owens paced the Whirlwinds with 13 points and Eric Narcum had eight. Jacob Gendre...